Side door for a vehicle

Abstract

A vehicle includes a support structure. The vehicle also includes a side door operable to move relative to the support structure between an open position and a closed position. In the open position of the side door, access to a vehicle interior of the vehicle is provided. In the closed position of the side door, the side door extends across a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle. The vehicle further includes a plurality of pivot members, each pivotably coupled to the support structure at a first end and pivotably coupled to the side door at a second end. The side door is movable between the open and closed positions via pivotal movement of each of the plurality of pivot members relative to the support structure and pivotal movement of the side door relative to each of the plurality of pivot members.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A vehicle, comprising:
 a support structure; 
 a side door operable to move relative to the support structure between an open position, wherein access to a vehicle interior of the vehicle is provided, and a closed position, wherein the side door extends across a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle; and 
 a plurality of pivot members comprising a first pivot member, a second pivot member, a third pivot member, and a fourth pivot member, each pivotably coupled to the support structure at a first end and pivotably coupled to the side door at a second end, wherein the side door is movable between the open and closed positions via pivotal movement of each of the plurality of pivot members relative to the support structure and pivotal movement of the side door relative to each of the plurality of pivot members, wherein the first pivot member is vehicle-rearward of the second pivot member, the second pivot member is vehicle-rearward of the third pivot member, and the third pivot member is vehicle-rearward of the fourth pivot member. 
 
     
     
       2. The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the side door extends across the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle in the open position. 
     
     
       3. The vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a rear door positioned vehicle-rearward of the side door. 
 
     
     
       4. The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the first pivot member is a first distance from the second end of the first pivot member, the first end of the second pivot member is a second distance from the second end of the second pivot member, the first end of the third pivot member is a third distance from the second end of the third pivot member, and the first end of the fourth pivot member is a fourth distance from the second end of the fourth pivot member, and wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance and less than the fourth distance, and the second distance is less than the first, third, and fourth distances. 
     
     
       5. The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of at least one of the plurality of pivot members is positioned above the support structure and beneath the side door in the closed position of the side door. 
     
     
       6. The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of pivot members extends across the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle in the closed position of the side door. 
     
     
       7. The vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a side panel pivotably coupled to a body of the vehicle and operable to pivot between a first position, wherein, in the closed position of the side door, the side panel is coupled with the side door and cooperates with the side door to cover an opening to the vehicle, and a second position, wherein the side panel is positioned vehicle-downward and vehicle-laterally outboard of a floor of the vehicle. 
 
     
     
       8. A vehicle, comprising:
 a first lateral side; 
 a second lateral side opposite the first lateral side; 
 a roof extending between the first and second lateral sides; and 
 a side door having a side portion and a roof portion coupled to the side portion at a corner, the side door being operable between a closed position, wherein the side door covers an opening defined by the first lateral side and the roof, and an open position, wherein at least a portion of the side portion of the side door extends above the roof and at least a portion of the roof portion of the side door extends wholly laterally-outboard of the second lateral side. 
 
     
     
       9. The vehicle of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a driver door coupled to the second lateral side and operable to move between driver door open and closed positions in the open position of the side door. 
 
     
     
       10. The vehicle of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a plurality of pivot members, each pivotably coupled to a support structure of the vehicle at a first end and pivotably coupled to the side door at a second end, wherein the side door is movable between the open and closed positions via pivotal movement of each of the plurality of pivot members relative to the support structure and pivotal movement of the side door relative to each of the plurality of pivot members. 
 
     
     
       11. The vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the plurality of pivot members is pivotably coupled to the roof portion of the side door. 
     
     
       12. The vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of pivot members is pivotably coupled to the roof portion of the side door. 
     
     
       13. The vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of pivot members comprises:
 a first pivot member; 
 a second pivot member; 
 a third pivot member; and 
 a fourth pivot member, wherein the first pivot member is vehicle-rearward of the second pivot member, the second pivot member is vehicle-rearward of the third pivot member, and the third pivot member is vehicle-rearward of the fourth pivot member. 
 
     
     
       14. The vehicle of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a side panel pivotably coupled to a body of the vehicle and operable to pivot between a first position, wherein, in the closed position of the side door, the side panel is coupled with the side door and cooperates with the side door to cover the opening, and a second position, wherein the side panel is positioned vehicle-downward and vehicle-laterally outboard of a floor of the vehicle. 
 
     
     
       15. A vehicle, comprising:
 a first lateral side; 
 a second lateral side opposite the first lateral side; 
 a roof extending between the first and second lateral sides; and 
 a side door operable between a closed position, wherein the side door covers an opening defined by the roof and the first lateral side, and an open position, wherein a portion of the side door is wholly vehicle-downward of the roof and vehicle-laterally-outboard of the second lateral side. 
 
     
     
       16. The vehicle of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a plurality of pivot members that operably couple the side door to a support structure of the vehicle, each of the plurality of pivot members having a first end that is pivotably coupled to the support structure and a second end that is pivotably coupled to the side door, wherein the side door is movable between the open and closed positions via pivotal movement of each of the plurality of pivot members relative to the support structure and pivotal movement of the side door relative to each of the plurality of pivot members. 
 
     
     
       17. The vehicle of  claim 15 , wherein the side door extends across a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle in the closed position of the side door. 
     
     
       18. The vehicle of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a side panel pivotably coupled to a body of the vehicle and operable to pivot between a first position, wherein, in the closed position of the side door, the side panel is coupled with the side door and cooperates with the side door to cover the opening, and a second position, wherein the side panel is positioned vehicle-downward and vehicle-laterally outboard of a floor of the vehicle.